JP7594730B2 - Glass sheet manufacturing method and manufacturing device - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for manufacturing glass sheets.

As is well known, one method for manufacturing glass sheets is to cut a glass sheet from a glass ribbon formed by a down-draw method by conveying the glass ribbon downward in a vertical position and cutting it in the width direction. Patent Document 1 discloses an example of a specific form of this method.

In the embodiment disclosed in the document, first, a scribe line is formed along the width direction on one side of the glass ribbon while it is being transported downward in a vertical position. Then, while the glass ribbon is supported from the other side by a support member (a fulcrum bar in the document), the support member is used as a fulcrum to bend the area where the scribe line is formed so that one side becomes convex. This causes the glass ribbon to be folded and cut along the scribe line. Note that in the embodiment disclosed in Patent Document 1, a flexible glass ribbon (e.g., with a thickness of 300 μm or less) is targeted for cutting.

JP 2018-90446 A

When implementing the above embodiment, the glass ribbon is flexible and therefore prone to wrinkles and slack during transport. Due to these wrinkles and slack, some parts of the support member may not be in contact with the glass ribbon when the glass ribbon is folded and cut. In other words, the wrinkled or slackened parts of the glass ribbon are partially floating above the support member. When this happens, the cut portion that should be formed along the scribe line deviates from the scribe line, resulting in a problem of damage to the glass ribbon.

In view of the above, the technical problem to be solved is how to prevent breakage of the glass ribbon when cutting the flexible glass ribbon into glass sheets while it is being transported downward in a vertical position.

The method for manufacturing a glass sheet to solve the above problem involves cutting a flexible glass ribbon in the width direction while conveying it downward in a vertical position to cut it, and includes the following steps: a scribing step in which a scribe line is formed on one side of the portion of the glass ribbon to be cut that extends in the width direction; and a folding step in which, with the glass ribbon after the scribing step supported by a support member from the other side, the portion of the glass ribbon to be cut is bent so that one side is convex, using the support member as a fulcrum, and the glass ribbon is folded and cut along the scribe line. In the folding step, a portion of the glass ribbon below the portion to be cut is pulled in the width direction to extend the portion of the glass ribbon supported by the support member in the width direction, and then the portion of the glass ribbon to be cut is bent so that one side is convex.

In this method, in the folding and breaking process, the portion of the glass ribbon below the portion to be cut is pulled in the width direction to stretch the portion of the glass ribbon supported by the support member in the width direction, and then the portion to be cut is curved so that one side is convex. Therefore, even if wrinkles or slack occurs in the glass ribbon due to its flexibility, it is possible to stretch and eliminate the wrinkles and slack in the width direction at least in the portion supported by the support member before folding and breaking the glass ribbon (before bending the portion to be cut). This makes it possible to prevent a part of the support member from being out of contact with the glass ribbon due to wrinkles or slack during folding and breaking. As a result, it is possible to prevent the cutting portion formed in the glass ribbon in the folding and breaking process from deviating from the scribe line, and to prevent damage to the glass ribbon.

In the above method, in the scribing step, it is preferable to form a scribe line by pulling the portion of the glass ribbon below the portion to be cut in the width direction to extend the portion to be cut in the width direction, and moving a scribe line forming tool over one side of the portion to be cut while supporting the portion to be cut from the other side by a scribing assistant member.

In this way, the portion to be cut where the scribe line will be formed in the scribing process can be extended in the width direction. In other words, even if wrinkles or slackness occurs in the glass ribbon, the wrinkles or slackness present on the portion to be cut can be extended in the width direction and eliminated. This makes it possible to prevent the portion to be cut from being partially lifted up from the scribe assist member due to wrinkles or slackness. This makes it possible to prevent the scribe line forming tool from passing through the portion that is lifted up from the scribe assist member, and makes it possible to prevent as much as possible the glass ribbon from being damaged or the scribe line from becoming discontinuous as the scribe line is formed.

In the above method, it is preferable to use, as the support member and scribing assistant member, members that are curved so that the contact portion that comes into contact with the glass ribbon is convex along the width direction of the glass ribbon.

In this way, one side of the intended cutting portion of the glass ribbon, on which the scribe line is formed, is curved convexly along the width direction during the scribing and folding processes. This makes it easier to form the scribe line in the scribing process and easier to fold and cut the glass ribbon in the folding process. In addition, in this method, the portion of the glass ribbon below the intended cutting portion is pulled in the width direction. This makes it possible to avoid unintentional curvature of the other side of the glass ribbon becoming convex when the portion is folded. This makes it possible to prevent the direction of curvature from being reversed between the intended cutting portion and the intended cutting portion, enabling the glass ribbon to be folded and folded more accurately.

In the above method, with regard to the distance along the longitudinal direction of the glass ribbon, it is preferable to make the distance from the point where the glass ribbon is pulled to the intended cutting portion different between the scribing process and the bending process, and to make the distance in the scribing process shorter than the distance in the bending process.

In this way, in the scribing process, the glass ribbon is pulled at a location relatively close to the portion to be cut, thereby reliably preventing the portion to be cut from partially lifting off the scribing assistant member described above. This makes it possible to stably form the scribe line. In addition, in the folding process, the glass ribbon is pulled at a location relatively far from the portion to be cut, thereby maintaining the effect of eliminating wrinkles and slack in the portion supported by the support member described above, while also preventing stress that would adversely affect folding of the glass ribbon (stress that is not actually necessary for folding) from acting on the portion to be cut. This makes it possible to stably perform folding.

In the above method, it is preferable that the distance along the longitudinal direction of the glass ribbon from the point where the glass ribbon is pulled to the intended cutting portion during the bending and cutting process be 200 mm or more.

This makes it possible to more reliably prevent the stress that adversely affects the folding and splitting described above from acting on the intended cutting area.

In the above method, it is preferable to pull the glass ribbon in the width direction at multiple points in the longitudinal direction.

In this way, it is possible to minimize the risk of a force acting locally on the glass ribbon, as occurs when only one point is pulled in the width direction, which could adversely affect the scribing and bending processes.

In addition, a glass sheet manufacturing device for solving the above problem includes a cutting mechanism that cuts a flexible glass ribbon in the width direction while being transported downward in a vertical position, thereby cutting out a glass sheet from the glass ribbon. The cutting mechanism includes a scribing mechanism that forms a scribe line on one side of the portion to be cut that extends in the width direction of the glass ribbon, and a folding mechanism that bends the portion to be cut of the glass ribbon on which the scribe line is formed so that the one side is convex, and folds and breaks the glass ribbon along the scribe line to cut it. The folding mechanism includes a support member that supports the glass ribbon from the other side, a holding member that holds a portion of the glass ribbon below the portion to be cut, and a moving device that moves the holding member holding the lower portion from one side to the other side of the glass ribbon, using the support member as a fulcrum, to bend the portion to be cut of the glass ribbon. When the glass ribbon is folded and broken by the folding mechanism, the holding member is configured to pull the lower portion in the width direction, thereby extending the portion of the glass ribbon supported by the support member in the width direction.

This device provides the same effects and benefits as the glass plate manufacturing method described above.

The glass sheet manufacturing method and manufacturing apparatus disclosed herein makes it possible to prevent damage to the glass ribbon when cutting a flexible glass ribbon being transported downward in a vertical position to cut out a glass sheet.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the glass sheet manufacturing apparatus. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the AA section in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a scribing step in the method for producing a glass plate. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a scribing step in the method for producing a glass plate. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a bending step in the method for producing a glass plate. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a bending step in the method for producing a glass plate. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a bending step in the method for producing a glass plate. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a bending step in the method for producing a glass plate.

The glass plate manufacturing method and manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment will be described below with reference to the attached drawings. Note that the X direction, Y direction, and Z direction shown in each drawing referred to in the description of the embodiment are mutually orthogonal directions.

<Glass sheet manufacturing equipment>
First, a glass sheet manufacturing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 (hereinafter, simply referred to as the manufacturing apparatus 1) will be described.

The manufacturing device 1 is equipped with a cutting mechanism 2 for cutting the glass ribbon G, which is being transported downward in a vertical position, in the width direction (X direction) along the portion to be cut Gp, thereby cutting out the cut-out target portion Gx located below the portion to be cut Gp from the glass ribbon G. When the glass ribbon G is cut by the cutting mechanism 2, the cut-out target portion Gx is cut out as a glass sheet Gs.

The manufacturing device 1 cuts a flexible glass ribbon G. The glass ribbon G is glass formed by a downdraw method (e.g., an overflow downdraw method). The glass ribbon G includes a useful portion G1 located in the center in the width direction and a non-useful portion G2 located at each end in the width direction. The useful portion G1 is a portion that includes a portion that will later become a product glass sheet, and the non-useful portion G2 is a portion that will not become a product glass sheet and will be discarded. The thickness of the useful portion G1 is, for example, 0.4 mm or less. In FIG. 1, the boundary between the useful portion G1 and the non-useful portion G2 is indicated by a two-dot chain line.

The cutting mechanism 2 has a scribing mechanism 3 for forming a scribe line S (see Figures 3 and 4) on one side Ga of the portion to be cut Gp extending in the width direction of the glass ribbon G, and a folding mechanism 4 for folding and cutting the glass ribbon G along the scribe line S (see Figures 5 to 8).

The scribing mechanism 3 includes a scribing assistant member 5 that supports the portion Gp of the glass ribbon G to be cut from the other side Gb, and a scribing wheel 6 as a scribing line forming tool that forms a scribe line S while moving (running) on one side Ga of the portion Gp to be cut.

Both the scribing assistant member 5 and the scribing wheel 6 can be raised and lowered in the vertical direction (Y direction) by a lifting device (not shown). When the scribing line S is being formed, both the members 5 and 6 descend to follow the glass ribbon G at the same speed as the downward transport speed of the glass ribbon G. In other words, when the scribing line S is being formed, the relative positional relationship in the vertical direction between the members 5 and 6 and the glass ribbon G is not changed.

The scribing assist member 5 is formed so as to be long along the width direction of the glass ribbon G. The scribing assist member 5 has a contact portion 5a that directly contacts the glass ribbon G (the portion to be cut Gp). Note that only the contact portion 5a of the entire scribing assist member 5 is shown in figures other than FIG. 1. The contact portion 5a is capable of contacting the entire width of the glass ribbon G (the portion to be cut Gp) excluding both ends in the width direction, and is curved so as to be convex along the width direction of the glass ribbon G (see FIG. 3).

As a modified example of this embodiment, the contact portion 5a of the scribe assist member 5 may be formed flat along the width direction of the glass ribbon G without being curved.

The scribe wheel 6 is a disk-shaped member with a blade-shaped periphery. The scribe wheel 6 runs over the contact portion 5a of the scribe assistant member 5 via the glass ribbon G (the portion to be cut Gp). As the scribe wheel 6 runs, it forms a scribe line S over the entire width of the glass ribbon G (the portion to be cut Gp) excluding both ends in the width direction (see Figure 3).

Both the scribing assistant member 5 and the scribing wheel 6 can change their positions along the thickness direction (Z direction) of the glass ribbon G. More specifically, both 5 and 6 can move between a contact position (position shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 2) where they are in contact with the glass ribbon G, and a standby position (position shown by a solid line in FIG. 2) where they are separated from the glass ribbon G. Both 5 and 6 are in the contact position when the scribe line S is being formed, and are in the standby position when the scribe line S is not being formed.

The bending mechanism 4 has the function of cutting the glass ribbon G by bending the intended cutting portion Gp of the glass ribbon G on which the scribe line S is formed so that one side Ga is convex, thereby applying a bending stress to the intended cutting portion Gp (see Figures 7 and 8).

The breaking mechanism 4 includes a support member 7 that supports the glass ribbon G from the other side Gb, a holding member 8 that holds the portion Gx of the glass ribbon G to be cut out, and a moving device 9 (not shown in FIG. 2) that moves the holding member 8 while holding the portion Gx to be cut out. Note that while the holding member 8 and the moving device 9 belong to the breaking mechanism 4, they operate not only when breaking the glass ribbon G but also when forming the scribe line S (details will be described later).

The support member 7 can be raised and lowered in the vertical direction by a lifting device (not shown). The holding member 8 can be moved in the vertical direction by a moving device 9, as described in detail later. When the glass ribbon G is folded and broken, both the support member 7 and the holding member 8 descend to follow the glass ribbon G at the same speed as the downward transport speed of the glass ribbon G. This ensures that the relative positional relationship in the vertical direction between the two members 7, 8 and the glass ribbon G does not change when the glass ribbon G is folded and broken.

The support member 7 is a member that serves as a fulcrum for curving the portion to be cut Gp when bending and cutting the glass ribbon G. The support member 7 is formed so as to be long along the width direction of the glass ribbon G. The support member 7 has a contact portion 7a that directly contacts the glass ribbon G. Note that only the contact portion 7a of the entire support member 7 is shown in figures other than FIG. 1. The contact portion 7a is capable of contacting the entire width of the glass ribbon G except for both ends in the width direction, and is curved so as to be convex along the width direction of the glass ribbon G (see FIG. 6).

As a modification of this embodiment, the contact portion 7a of the support member 7 may be formed flat without curving along the width direction of the glass ribbon G.

The support member 7 can change its position along the thickness direction of the glass ribbon G. Specifically, the support member 7 can move between a contact position (position shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 2) where it contacts the glass ribbon G, and a standby position (position shown by a solid line in FIG. 2) where it is separated from the glass ribbon G. The support member 7 is in the contact position when the glass ribbon G is being folded and is in the standby position when the glass ribbon G is not being folded.

The holding member 8 has a pair of arms 10, 10 that face each other at one end and the other end in the width direction of the cutting target portion Gx. Each of the pair of arms 10, 10 has an arm body 11 that extends in the vertical direction and a plurality of chucks 12 attached to the arm body 11 in a vertically arranged state.

Each of the multiple chucks 12 has a pair of claws 12a, 12a that grip the non-effective portion G2 of the cut-out portion Gx from both thickness directions (Z direction). The pair of claws 12a, 12a can be opened and closed. As a result, when each claw 12a is closed (shown by solid lines in FIG. 2), it grips the cut-out portion Gx, and when each claw 12a is opened (shown by two-dot chain lines in FIG. 2), it releases the grip of the cut-out portion Gx. Each of the multiple chucks 12 can grip and release the grip of the cut-out portion Gx independently of the other chucks 12.

The arm body 11 can be moved by the moving device 9 while being rotated around an axis extending in the X direction by a guide mechanism (not shown). The axis that is the center of the rotational movement is located above the arm body 11. With the rotational movement, the arm body 11 can take a vertical position parallel to the up-down direction (position shown by the solid line in FIG. 2) and an inclined position inclined from the vertical position (position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 2). As a result, with the multiple chucks 12 gripping the cutting target portion Gx, the position of the arm body 11 transitions from the vertical position to the inclined position, thereby curving the portion Gp of the glass ribbon G to be cut.

The moving device 9 includes a first mechanism 13 for moving the arm 10 in the vertical direction (Y direction), a second mechanism 14 for moving the arm 10 in the width direction (X direction) of the glass ribbon G, and a third mechanism 15 for moving the arm 10 in the thickness direction (Z direction) of the glass ribbon G.

The first mechanism 13 has a plate 16 attached to the arm 10 (arm body 11), a guide rail 17 for guiding the up and down movement of the plate 16, a ball screw 18 for providing power for the up and down movement of the plate 16, a frame 19 on which the guide rail 17 and ball screw 18 are mounted, and a servo motor 20 connected to the ball screw 18.

In this manufacturing apparatus 1, the arm 10 moves up and down as the plate 16 moves up and down due to the operation of the first mechanism 13. Then, the arm 10 moves down to follow the glass ribbon G as the plate 16 moves downward.

The second mechanism 14 has a plate 21 fixed to the frame 19, a guide rail 22 for guiding the movement of the plate 21 along the width direction of the glass ribbon G, a ball screw 23 for providing power for the movement of the plate 21, a frame 24 on which the guide rail 22 and ball screw 23 are mounted, and a servo motor 25 connected to the ball screw 23.

In this manufacturing apparatus 1, the plate 21 is moved by the operation of the second mechanism 14, making it possible to adjust the position of the arm 10 according to the width dimension of the glass ribbon G. Furthermore, with the cut-out target portion Gx held by the pair of arms 10, 10, each arm 10 is moved outward in the width direction as the plate 21 moves, making it possible to pull the cut-out target portion Gx in the width direction (see Figures 3 and 6). Note that since the arm 10 has multiple chucks 12, the cut-out target portion Gx is pulled in the width direction at multiple points in the longitudinal direction (Y direction) of the glass ribbon G.

The third mechanism 15 has a guide rail 26 for guiding the movement of the frame 24 along the thickness direction of the glass ribbon G, a ball screw 27 for providing power for the movement of the frame 24, a base 28 on which the guide rail 26 and ball screw 27 are mounted, and a servo motor (not shown) connected to the ball screw 27.

In this manufacturing apparatus 1, as the frame 24 moves due to the operation of the third mechanism 15, the posture of the arm body 11 transitions from a vertical posture to an inclined posture, while the arm 10 moves from one side Ga of the glass ribbon G to the other side Gb.

<Method of manufacturing glass plate>
Hereinafter, a method for manufacturing a glass sheet using the above-described manufacturing apparatus 1 will be described.

In this manufacturing method, when cutting out glass sheets Gs from glass ribbon G formed by the down-draw method, a scribing process P1 (FIGS. 3 and 4) is carried out to form a scribe line S in the glass ribbon G, and a folding and cutting process P2 (FIGS. 5 to 8) is carried out to fold and cut the glass ribbon G along the scribe line S.

In the scribing process P1 shown in Figures 3 and 4, first, a pair of arms 10, 10 that descend to follow the glass ribbon G as it is being transported downward after being formed, hold the portion Gx of the glass ribbon G to be cut out. Specifically, the pair of arms 10, 10 each have a plurality of chucks 12, and each of the pair of arms 10, 10 has a pair of claws 12a, 12a that are changed from an open state to a closed state to grip the portion Gx to be cut out.

At this time, with regard to the distance along the longitudinal direction (Y direction) of the glass ribbon G, it is preferable that the separation distance L1 from the uppermost chuck 12 of the multiple chucks 12 to the portion Gp of the glass ribbon G to be cut is 100 mm or less. The separation distance L1 is set to 100 mm or less in order to preferably obtain the effect of eliminating wrinkles and slack on the portion Gp to be cut, which will be described later. Note that it is preferable that the separation distance L1 is 30 mm or more so that the uppermost chuck 12 does not interfere with the scribing assist member 5 and the scribing wheel 6.

Next, each of the pair of arms 10, 10 holding the cut-out target portion Gx is moved outward in the width direction of the glass ribbon G, and the cut-out target portion Gx is pulled in the width direction by each chuck 12. At this time, the distance by which each arm 10 is moved outward in the width direction is, for example, 1 mm to 2 mm. Here, the distance by which one and the other of the pair of arms 10, 10 move may be equal as in this embodiment, or may be unequal unlike this embodiment, or only one arm 10 may be moved. As the cut-out target portion Gx is pulled, the cut-out target portion Gp of the glass ribbon G is stretched in the width direction. As a result, wrinkles and slacks (shown by two-dot chain lines in FIG. 3) present on the cut-out target portion Gp are stretched in the width direction and eliminated.

Next, the scribe assist member 5 and the scribe wheel 6 are both lowered to follow the glass ribbon G, while both 5 and 6 are moved from their standby positions to their contact positions. This causes the contact portion 5a of the scribe assist member 5 to come into contact with the glass ribbon G (the portion to be cut Gp), and the portion to be cut Gp becomes curved in the width direction so that one side Ga is convex. In this state, the scribe wheel 6 is caused to run over one side Ga of the portion to be cut Gp, thereby forming a scribe line S. This completes the scribing process P1.

After the scribing process P1 is completed, both the scribing assistant member 5 and the scribing wheel 6 are moved from the contact position to the standby position. Furthermore, both the scribing assistant member 5 and the scribing wheel 6 are raised to the height position before the scribing line S is formed. Meanwhile, the pair of arms 10 continue to descend to follow the glass ribbon G, and the chucks 12 continue to pull the cut-out target portion Gx in the width direction. The chucks 12 continue to pull the cut-out target portion Gx until the bending and cutting process P2 is performed to cut out the glass ribbon G into a glass sheet Gs.

Here, in this embodiment, after the pair of arms 10, 10 are moved to pull the cut-out target portion Gx in the width direction (after the portion to be cut Gp is extended in the width direction), the scribing assistant member 5 and the scribing wheel 6 are moved from the standby position to the contact position. However, this is not limited to this, and as a modified example of this embodiment, after the scribing assistant member 5 is moved from the standby position to the contact position, the pair of arms 10, 10 may be moved to pull the cut-out target portion Gx. Then, further after that, the scribing wheel 6 may be moved from the standby position to the contact position.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the bending process P2, first, the pair of claws 12a, 12a of the topmost chuck 12 among the multiple chucks 12 is changed from a closed state to an open state, thereby releasing the grip of the cut-out target portion Gx. The remaining chucks 12, excluding the topmost one, continue to grip the cut-out target portion Gx. As a result, when the bending process P2 is performed, the cut-out target portion Gx is pulled at a location farther from the intended cutting portion Gp than when the scribing process P1 is performed.

At this time, with regard to the distance along the longitudinal direction (Y direction) of the glass ribbon G, the distance L2 from the second chuck 12 from the top (the uppermost chuck 12 among the chucks 12 gripping the portion Gx to be cut) to the portion Gp of the glass ribbon G to be cut is 200 mm or more. Of course, the distance L2 is longer than the distance L1 described above. The reason for setting the distance L2 to 200 mm or more is to prevent the curvature of the portion Gp to be cut from becoming excessive when the glass ribbon G is folded and broken.

Next, the support member 7 is moved from the standby position to the contact position while being lowered following the glass ribbon G. This brings the contact portion 7a of the support member 7 into contact with the glass ribbon G. In this embodiment, the contact portion 7a is brought into contact with the glass ribbon G above the portion to be cut Gp. Of course, this is not the only option, and as a modified example of this embodiment, the contact portion 7a may be brought into contact with the portion to be cut Gp. When the contact portion 7a of the support member 7 comes into contact with the glass ribbon G, as shown in FIG. 6, the portion of the glass ribbon G supported by the support member 7 (hereinafter referred to as the supported portion) is curved in the width direction so that one side Ga is convex.

Here, as described above, each chuck 12 continues to pull the cut-out target portion Gx in the width direction from the time when the scribing process P1 is performed. As a result, the supported portion of the glass ribbon G comes into contact with the contact portion 7a of the support member 7 in a state where it is stretched in the width direction, that is, in a state where wrinkles and slackness (shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 6) have disappeared. Note that, between the scribing process P1 and the folding process P2, the distance by which each arm 10 is moved outward in the width direction in order to pull the cut-out target portion Gx in the width direction by each chuck 12 may be the same as in this embodiment, or may be different from this embodiment.

Next, as shown in FIG. 7, the arm body 11 is rotated to change the posture of the arm body 11 from a vertical posture to an inclined posture. This causes the portion Gp of the glass ribbon G to be curved. When bending stress acts on the portion Gp to be cut due to the curvature, the glass ribbon G is broken along the scribe line S. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, a glass sheet Gs is cut out from the glass ribbon G. This completes the bending and breaking process P2.

After the folding process P2 is completed, the support member 7 is moved from the contact position to the standby position. Furthermore, the support member 7 is raised to the height position before folding the glass ribbon G. The glass sheet Gs cut from the glass ribbon G is transferred to a transfer device (not shown) for transferring the glass sheet G to a downstream process. After the glass sheet Gs is transferred to the transfer device, the pair of arms 10, 10 return to the position before the formation of the scribe line S.

The main functions and effects of the above manufacturing device 1 and manufacturing method are described below.

In the above-mentioned manufacturing device 1 and manufacturing method, the cut-out target portion Gx in the glass ribbon G is pulled in the width direction, the supported portion (the portion supported by the support member 7) in the glass ribbon G is stretched in the width direction, and then the portion to be cut Gp is curved. Therefore, even if wrinkles or slack occurs in the glass ribbon G due to its flexibility, at least in the supported portion, the wrinkles or slack can be stretched in the width direction and eliminated before the glass ribbon G is folded and broken (before the portion to be cut Gp is curved). This makes it possible to prevent a part of the support member 7 (contact portion 7a) from being out of contact with the glass ribbon G due to wrinkles or slack during folding and breaking. As a result, it is possible to prevent the cutting portion formed in the glass ribbon G from deviating from the scribe line S during folding and breaking, and to prevent damage to the glass ribbon G.

Here, the following modified examples can be applied to the above embodiment. In the above embodiment, the cut-out target portion Gx is pulled in the width direction as the pair of arms 10, 10 are moved outward in the width direction of the glass ribbon G. However, as a modified example, any mechanism may be adopted as long as it can pull the cut-out target portion Gx in the width direction. In the above embodiment, the cut-out target portion Gx is pulled in the width direction by the same means (a pair of arms 10, 10) between the scribing process P1 and the bending process P2. However, as a modified example, the cut-out target portion Gx may be pulled in the width direction by different means (devices or mechanisms) between the scribing process P1 and the bending process P2. As a further modified example, the cut-out target portion Gx may be pulled in the width direction only in the bending process P2.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Glass sheet manufacturing device 2 Cutting mechanism 3 Scribing mechanism 4 Flexing mechanism 5 Scribing assistant member 5a Contact portion 6 Scribing wheel 7 Support member 7a Contact portion 8 Holding member 9 Moving device 10 Arm G Glass ribbon Ga One side Gb Other side Gp Part to be cut Gs Glass sheet Gx Part to be cut out L1 Separation distance L2 Separation distance P1 Scribing process P2 Flexing process S Scribe line

Claims (5)

A method for cutting a glass sheet from a flexible glass ribbon by conveying the flexible glass ribbon downward in a vertical position and cutting the glass ribbon in a width direction, comprising the steps of:
a scribing step of forming a scribe line on one surface of a portion to be cut extending in a width direction of the glass ribbon;
a bending and cutting process in which, in a state in which the glass ribbon after the scribing process is supported by a support member from the other surface side, the portion to be cut of the glass ribbon is curved so that one surface side is convex with the support member as a fulcrum, and the glass ribbon is bent and cut along the scribe line;
A method for producing a glass sheet, comprising:
In the bending and breaking step, a portion of the glass ribbon below the portion to be cut is pulled in a width direction to extend a portion of the glass ribbon supported by the support member in the width direction, and then the portion to be cut of the glass ribbon is curved so that one surface side is convex ,
In the scribing step,
A portion of the glass ribbon below the portion to be cut is pulled in a width direction to extend the portion to be cut in the width direction,
a scribe line forming tool is moved over one surface of the portion to be cut while the portion to be cut is supported by a scribe assistant member from the other surface side, thereby forming the scribe line;
With respect to a distance along a longitudinal direction of the glass ribbon,
A method for manufacturing a glass plate, characterized in that a distance from a point where the glass ribbon is pulled to the intended cutting portion is made different between the scribing process and the bending process, and the distance in the scribing process is made shorter than the distance in the bending process . The method for manufacturing a glass plate according to claim 1 , characterized in that the support member and the scribing assistant member are made of members that are curved so that their contact portions that come into contact with the glass ribbon are convex along the width direction of the glass ribbon. With respect to a distance along a longitudinal direction of the glass ribbon,
3. The method for manufacturing a glass sheet according to claim 1, wherein a distance from a point where the glass ribbon is pulled to the portion to be cut in the bending and breaking step is set to 200 mm or more. The method for producing a glass sheet according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , characterized in that a plurality of positions in the longitudinal direction of the glass ribbon are pulled in the width direction. An apparatus for producing a glass sheet, comprising:
A cutting mechanism is provided for cutting a flexible glass ribbon in a width direction while the flexible glass ribbon is being conveyed downward in a vertical position, thereby cutting out a glass sheet from the glass ribbon,
the cutting mechanism includes a scribing mechanism that forms a scribe line on one surface of a portion to be cut that extends in a width direction of the glass ribbon, and a bending and splitting mechanism that curves the portion to be cut of the glass ribbon on which the scribe line is formed so that one surface side is convex, and folds and splits the glass ribbon along the scribe line to cut it,
the bending and breaking mechanism includes a support member that supports the glass ribbon from the other side, a holding member that holds a portion of the glass ribbon below the portion to be cut, and a moving device that moves the holding member while holding the lower portion from one side to the other side of the glass ribbon, thereby bending the portion to be cut of the glass ribbon with the support member as a fulcrum,
When the glass ribbon is broken by the breaking mechanism, the holding member is configured to pull the lower portion in a width direction, thereby extending a portion of the glass ribbon supported by the support member in the width direction ,
When the scribe line is formed by the scribing mechanism, the holding member pulls the lower portion in a width direction to extend the portion to be cut in the glass ribbon in the width direction, and
a scribe line forming tool is moved over one surface of the portion to be cut while the portion to be cut is supported by a scribe assistant member from the other surface side, thereby forming the scribe line;
With respect to a distance along a longitudinal direction of the glass ribbon,
a cutting mechanism for cutting the glass ribbon by bending ...

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